Watchman&#39;s clock.



F. HARDINGE.

WATCHMANS CLOCK.y

APPLlcATmN FxLED run/.16, 1912.

1,2235581 Patente Apr. 24,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

F. HARDINGE.

WATCHMANS CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. I6. :9I2.

1,223,581. PLT-.med Apr. 24,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANKLIN HARDINGE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 HARDING-E BROTHERS,0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

WATCIIMANS CLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 24, 1917.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN Haremos, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Natchmens Clocks, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a. part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to improvements in watchmens clocks, adapted tomake a characteristic record upon a record receiving dial or diskcontained within the clock when actuated in connection with markingmechanism, which is usually located at various points within thebuilding or territory to be covered by the watchman.

My invention contemplates the provision, in a clock of this kind, of acertain improved device associated with the clock, adapted to force thecharacter carrying key into positive engagement with the recordreceiving disk.

Janother feature of the clock of my invention is the means provided forclamping the record disk and driving the saine. A suitable spring isinterposed bet veen the clock spindle and the member to which the diskis clamped, in order that the disk may not be torn or the clockmechanism suffer injury if for a short time the disk should be heldagainst rotation.

As clocks of the class in question must necessarily be subjected toconsiderable ar, I provide a. novel means for cushioning the clockmechanism, such means being in the form of a plate of spring metal towhich the clock work frame is secured, said spring being in turn securedto the clock casing proper.

The watchmans clock of my invention is provided with means adapted temake a record upon the disk whenever the clock casing is open.

Other features of the watchmans clock of my invention will appear asthis description progresses.

' In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the clock of my invention,portion of the casing being broken away to reveal the shock absorbingplate with which the clock mechanism is provided.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3of Fig. 1, this view being enlarged to conform with Fig. 2.

'Fig el is a view of the recording mechamsm.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the parts shown in Fig. 4 taken on thelinel 5 5 thereof.

Fig. (l is an end view of the recording mechanism, a portion of theframe work thereof being shown in section.

Fig. '7 is a top view of the clock, showing the key slot and theoperating lever for the recording mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a. sectional, detailed view of the disk clamping and drivingmechanism.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view thereof taken on the line 11G-10 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a detailed view of the operating cam for the means forrecording the opening of the clock casing, this view being taken on theline 10-10 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 11 is a` fragmentary view illustrating how the clock mechanism issecured to the casing.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a key made in accordance with myinvention.

Fig. 13 is an elevational view of the same, showing also a portion ofthe frame work of the recording mechanism. In this view the key has notbeen moved to its operative position.

Fig. 14e shows a modified construction of clock for receiving and usingthe key shown in Fig. 12.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the severalviews.

As shown in the drawings, the clock casingis illustrated at 17, saidcasing being provided with a hingedback 18. The casing is provided withsuitable rings 19-19, to which a` strap may be attached in order thatthe clock may be easily carried by a watchman. These rings also serve aslegs. The clock mechanism indicated at 2() is secured in the casing sucha way as to pro- 36 from the framework 32.

tect the clock mechanism, in a large measure, from the j olts and jarsto which the casing must necessarily be subjected. A plate 21, securedto the clock work supporting frame work by means of screws or otherwise,is provided with ears 22-22, as clearly illustrated in dotted lines inFig. 1. These ears are secured to lugs 23-23, carried by the casing bymeans of screws 24 2e1. As clearly shown in Fig. 11, the lugs 23--23 arerounded where they engage the plate 21. The purpose of rounding theselugs will presently appear. It should be noted that the plate 21 isenlarged at its upper end where it carries the dial 25, as shown in Fig.2. The plate 21 is provided on either side thereof with a lug 26,bearing against the front of the top casing.

Secured to the clock work mechanism frame work by means of a pluralityof screws 27-27, and conformed to lit the lower portion of plate 21, isa plate 28 consisting of a strip of light spring metal. This plate orstrip is provided with ears Y 29-29, which are secured to studs 30-30,

carried by the casing 17. The plate 28, being of light spring metal,yields whenever the casing 17 is subjected to any unusual jar; thus theclock work mechanism is protected. When the plate 28 yields, as beforestated, the plate 21 is allowed to turn slightly on the lugs 23, owingto the rounded portions thereof.

I Will now proceed to describe the recording mechanism, which is shownat 31 in Figs. 1 and 2 and which is illustrated in detail in Figs. /1 to6 inclusive. A frame work 32 supported by the easing 17 has pivotallymounted thereon at 33 a member 311, adapted to be operated by a camshaft 35 by means of'a handle 36 extending outside of the clock casing17. Suitable ratchet mechanism, not shown, is provided in the head ofthe handle 36 where it joins the shaft 35, so that such shaft may beoscillated by an oscillatory movement of the handle 36, when the key 37is placed in the key-way 38. The key 37, just referred to, is supportedby the member 34, and when the cam shaft is rotated by means of thehandle 36 the key 37 is moved against a record disk 39, supported by asuitable clamping device, to be hereinafter described. A collar 36a,loosely mounted upon the cam shaft, spaces the handle The member 31serves to press the key 37 forcibly against the plate or shield 41. Theportion 37a of the key consists of a suitable raised letter orcharacter, and thus a characteristic indication is made upon a portionof the disk, corresponding to the time at which the handle 36 isactuated, since the disk 39 is driven at a uniform rate by theclockwork.

The member 34 has formed in its left" hand end, as shown in Fig. 5, aslot #12 to 65 receive the rod 33, constituting a. pivot for suchmember, and when the key 37 is brought into engagement with the disk 39and the plate or shield 411, the cam shaft 35 serves to slightly rockthe member 34 5 that the engagement is not a forced one owing to therelation of the rod 33 and the slot 12, the pressure exerted upon thedisk 39 being due to the spring 43. Then the shaft 35 is further rotatedto release the member 3&1, the spring y13 serves to return such memberto its normal position aga inst the stop pin i1-'1. The member 3lhassecured to its upper surface a plate l5 to retain the key 37 in place insuch member.

In order to prereut the member 31 from moving too far upwardly and thusdamage the raised character carried by the key, provide lugs againstwhich the member 31 abuts. These lugs, which are illustrated at 415 inFigs. 5 and 6, are cast integral with the framework and are providedwith rounded portions adapted to co-act with the rounded end of themembers 31. The devices which are provided to normally hold the shutter16 closed are illustrated and discussed at length in my Patent No.1,016,688, issued February 6, 1912. The shutter -16 consists of a plateof a substantially L- shaped cross-section, each of the arms of the Lbeing provided with lips as shown. These lips, which are indicated b vreference characters l16a and 416b ride in slots in the top and side ofthe framework 32, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. Tith reference to themechanism for normally holding the shutter closed, it will sufiice tosay that when the key 37 is inserted into the key-way it engages thelever 47, and thereby moves the shutter -16 against the action of aspring 48. lVhen the key 37 withdrawn the shutter is then closed by thespring 18.

As clearly shown `in Fig. 5, a helical compression spring ia actsbetween the top of the framework 32 and the member 341. The ends of thiscompression spring bear in suitable openings in the framework and member31 as illustrated. In constructing the key actuating mechanism I providea plate 47 of hard steel, which serves to prevent wearing of the portionof framework protected thereby, due to the movement of the member 3&1.This protecting plate has a portion 171 bent at right angles to theremainder of the plate, which engages the key 37 when it is moved to itsoperable position and so prevents wearing of the framework as tl e keyis inserted. A s illustrated in Figs. 4 and 13, the top of the framework32 is enlarged, as indicated at 32a, 32a, in order that there may be aclearance between the plate 41 and the framework. A removable plate 321spans the key-slot, connects the portions 32a, 32l and retains the key37 in position. As clearly shown lin Fig. 13, the side of the keyengages the framework as it slides into operative position in thekey-way.

As shown in Fig. 12 the key 37 is formed from a rolled angle-bar ofsteel, preferably of suliicient hardness so that it may be tempered. Themembers of the angle-bar are of sullicient width to form a wing 49 forengagement by the hand of the operator and the flange 50 for securelyholding the key in proper position in the clock. By construct-A ing thekey of a rolled angle-bar the outer corner of the portion connectingtheflange 5() with the body portion of the key 37 may be sharp, whichresult could not be secured when the flange 50 was formed by dies from asheet or flat strip of metal, as has been common in the past. The sharpcorner thus formed materially assists in supporting the key in properposition in the clock during its operation.

The main portion 37 of the key is provided with a character 37aextending from one edge of the main portion near the end of the keyopposite to the wing or handle 49. The character may be of any desiredconformation, as a numeral, a letter, or an arbitrary character, and tofurther give particular value to any key and to facilitate themanufacture of the keys, the characters are disposed at differentpositions longitudinally of the key along the edge of the key 37. At theextreme left-hand end of the key, as shown in Fig. 12, a projecting lug51 is formed, which extends from the edge of the key 37 a sufficientdistance so that its outer end is slightly below the outer end of thecharacter 37a. rlhe lug 51 is of a height suchthat a straight line fromthe top of the lug to the top of the wing portion 49 passes above thecharacter 37a, as a result of which, when the key is laid upon oragainst the surfaces with wnich it is ordinarily apt to come in Contact,the outer end of the lug 51 and the wing 49 will engage the surface andprevent the character 37a from coming in contact therewith. This featureof protection is particularly valuable in connection with the boxesordinarily used in the for securing the keys at different watchinensstations, which boXes are usually made of metal having plane innersurfaces, and in view of this the construction described affordscomplete protection to the characters on the key.

After the characters are stamped upon the keys in such a manner thatthey may operate to emboss or print corresponding characters upon therecord in the watchmans clock, the keys are preferably hardened so thatthe characters may have as long a life as possible.

As shown in the drawings, 4the cylindrical key-way 38 has a portionthereof cut away, as indicated at 52, in order that the charactercarried by the key-way may not inutilate or be mutilated by the key-way38.

As shown, the flange 50 of the key 37 is provided with a hole 50a which,when the key is in. proper position in the framework 32, registers witha lug 501. If the key be inserted into the key-way in the wrongposition, or if the wrong key be inserted into the key-way, the lugprevents operation of the cam shaft 35.

1 will now describe the means by which the disk 39 is clamped and drivenby the clock spindle, which is illustrated at 53 in Fig. 2. Tae spindle53 is provided with a pinion 54, as shown. At 55 1 have shown a shaft bymeans of which the hands of the clock are set. The particular functionof this shaft is not important in so far as the present invention is`concerned. At 56 I have illus rated a spur gear which is looselymounted upon the shaft 55 and which meshes with the pinion 54 carried bythe spindle 53. rihis spur gear 56 is provided with a sie ve 57 fittingloosely around the shaft 55. il hollowed-out plate 5S, provided with asuitable aperture through which the shaft and the sleeve 57 extend,serves as a casing for the spur gear 5G and the pinion 54. Looselymounted upon the sleeve 57 and retained thereon by means of a washer 59is the driving member 60, which is triangular in form, thus permittingthe placing of the disk 39 in but one angular position relative thereto.rhc sleeve 57 is provided with a collar 61 which is to all intents andpurposes an integral part of the sleeve. Having one end secured to thecollar G1 and the oth u' end engaging the driving member GO is a coiledspring 62 which is disposed around the collar 61. 1t will thus be seenthat when the sleeve 57 and collar G1 are rotated the driving member isalso driven through the sp ng @f course, the disk 39 is driven with thedriving member G0. lf the disk should any reason be held againstrotation a short time the disk will not be torn or the clock workdisarranged. @wing to the presence of the spring 62, the sleeve 57 canbe rotated for some time without dan'mge; if the rotation of the drivingmember be stopped for a limited time. A pin G3 carried by the collar 61engages shoulder G4 carried by the driving member whenever the sleeve 57is one revolil) lution ahead of the driving member, thus preventing thefurther rotation of the sleeve 57 independently ot the driving member.The disk 39 is retained upon the driving member 6G by means of aclamping member G5, which is provided with projections 65 for engagingthe disk within a circle through the outer portions o' the drivingmember GO. The clamping member is retained upon the driving member G1 bymeans oi' springs GG disposed in suitable openings in the driving memer, which tend to hold balls G7 in engagement vith cut-out portions 68in the clamping member. These balls and springs eliectually retain theclamping member in operative position.

T he clock back 18 is provided with a loop 69 which is adapted to beengaged by a locking lever 70, pivoted to a bracket 71 supported by theclock casing. fis shown in Fig. 3, the lever 70 is shown in its lockedposition. rfhe disk 39 is disposed `under the bracket 71, as shown.livoted to the bracket 71 and provided with a suitable slot 72 is aplate 73. A spring and plunger indicated at 74 tend to lower the plate73 iroin. the position shown in Fig. 3. The slot 72 in the plate 73 isso located as to register with an opening` 75 in the bracket 71, inwhich is disposed a knife or pin 76 pivoted to an arm 77 on the locking`lever 70. llhe pin 76, when the locking lever is in its locked position,is disposed above the disk 89, resting against the bracket 71. Acompression spring 78, acting between the arm 77 and the bracket 71,tends to hold the locking lever in its locked position. Projections 69a,with which the loop G9 is provided, bear against the plate 73 when theback 18 is in its closed position, thereby retaining the slot 72directly over the opening 75 in the bracket 71. A spring 79 tends toopen the back 18.

Having bearings in the casing 17, and a suitable bracket 80, is a disk81 which may be rotated by means of a key inserted in key-hole opening82. his disk is provided with a cam 83. The disk 81 is provided with aportion 84- which serves to retain the locking lever 70 in its lockingposition when the disk is in the position shown in Fig. 10. lVhen thedisk 81 is turned by means of a key inserted in the key hole opening 82,the cam 83 acts as a wedge between the casing 17 and the upper portionof the locking lever, thereby drawing the locking lever from its lockedposition. At the same time the knife or pin 7 6 is lowered, making ahole in the disk 39. lVhen the hook, with which the locking lever isprovided, has been withdrawn from the loop G9, the hinged back 18 ispushed away from the casing 17 by the spring 7 9. At the same time theplate 73 is lowered by the spring and plunger 74. Vhen the back 18 isagain closed the plate 72 is pressed up again in the position shown inldig. 3. When the disk 81 is then rotated to withdraw the cam 83 frombetween the locking lever and the casing 17, the compression spring 78moves the locking lever into its locked position. Thus an indication ismade upon the disk 39 for every time the back 18 is opened. Thus, theclock work or any part of the operating mechanism cannot be tamperedwith without indicating upon the recording disk that the hinged back 18has been opened.

In Fig. 14 I have shown a modified construction of clock in which thekey-hole 38 is formed in a casting 38" secured in the asing 17"L of the'clock in such a manner that the key-hole extends to the outer end ofthe cylindrical. portion, extending trom the casing, and thus a positiveguide is atforded for the key from the instant that it enters thecylindrical portion and as long as it is in the clock. T his furtherreduces the danger ot cutting the parts so that the use of the clockwould be interfered with.

lVhile I ha ve illustrated my invention in the particular embinliments'herein shown and described, l do not limit myself to these particularconstructions, but desire to claim broadly any equivalent constructionswhich may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

That l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent ot the UnitedStates is: l

1. In a watchmans clock, the combination of record receiving means, arecording mechanism comprising a positively actuated member having ayielding pivotal support at one end, and means interposed between theactuating member and record receiving means to limit the movement ofsaid positively actuated member.

2. In a watchmans clock, the combination or' record receiving means, arecording mechanism comprising a positively actuated member forreceiving a printing or embossing device, an actuating device positivelycngaging one end oi such member, a spring support for the other endotsiwh member, and means interposed between the actuating member' andrecord receiving means to limit the movement of said positively actuatedmember.

3. In a watchmans clock, the combination of record receiving means, arecording mechanism comprising a positively actuated member having ayielding pivotal support at one end and being rounded at the other end,and means interposed between the actuating member and record receivingmeans to limit the movement of said positively actuated member, havingrounded portions adapted to co-act with said rounded end of saidpositively actuated member.

4. In a watchmans clock, the combination 0f a record receiving disk, akey for printing or embossing a character upon such disk, a memberadapted to receive and supporting said key normally out of contact withthe disk, a cam for positively engaging such member to force the keyagainst the disk, and means interposed between the actuating member anddisk to limit the movement of said positively actuated member.

5. in a device of the class described, the combination of a supportingplaten, a clamping member adapted to slip over said supporting platen,and spring means carried by the platen adapted to engage the clampingmember and retain the same in position.

6. in a device of the class described, the combination of a supportingplaten, a clamping member adapted to slip over said supporting platen, aspring and ball carried by the platen engaging the clamping member andadapted to retain the clamping member in position.

7. ln a watchmans clock, a casing, clockwork disposed in the casing Aandspaced therefrom, and a plate of spring metal supporting the clock-workand having portions extending on either side of the clock-work, saidportions being secured to the casing.

S. In a watchmans clock, a casing, clockwork disposed in the casing andspaced therefrom, and a plate of spring metal supporting the clock-workand having portions extending on either side of the clock-work, saidportions being secured to lugs carried by the casing.

9. A watchmans clock comprising a casing, clock-work disposed in thecasing, a supporting frame work for the clock-work, one side of theframe work having one end secured directly to the casing, and theopposite end secured to a plate of spring metal, said plate being inturn secured to the casing.

10. A watchmans clock comprising a casing, clock work disposed in thecasing, supporting frame Work for said clock work, one side of saidframe work having one end secured to rounded lugs carried by the casing,and the opposite end secured to a plate of spring metal, said platebeing in turn secured to the casing.

11. A watchmans clock comprising a casing, a clock-work disposed in thecasing, supporting frame-work for said clock-work, one side of saidframe-work having one end secured to rounded lugs carried by the oasing,and the opposite end secured to a plate of spring metal, said platebeing in turn secured to lugs carried by the casing.

12. In a watchmans clock, the combination of record receiving means, arecording mechanism comprising a framework, and a y positively actuatedmember having a yielding pivotal support at one end, there being ahelical spring interposed between said positively actuated member andsaid frame- Work.

13. in a watchmans clock, the combination of record receiving means, arecording mechanism comprising a framework, and a positively actuatedmember having a. yielding pivotal support at one end, there being aspring interposed between said positively actuated member and saidframework.

14. ln a watchmans clock, a casing, a hinged back therefor, a leverpivotally oarried by the casing, said lever comprising a locking armarranged to engage and hold the back in closed position, a recording armand an operating arm, a recording device carried by the recording arm,means carried by the casing arranged to actuate the operating arm torelease the back and operate the recording arm, and a cam carried by theoperating arm actuating means arranged positively to retain the lockingarm in locked position and the recording arm in inoperative position.

15. 1n a watchmans clock, a casing, a back carried by the casing, alever pivotally secured to the casing, a recording device carried by thelever, a locking arm carried by the lever, said arm being arranged tohold the back in closed position, an operating arm integral with thelocking arm, rotatable means carried by the casing adapted to move theoperating arm to cause the recording device and locking arm to operate,and positive and spring means acting to hold the recording device ininoperative position and said locking arm in locked position.

16. in a watchmans clock, a casing, a back carried by the casing, alever pivotally secured to the casing, a recording device carried by thelever, a locking lever for the back, means carried by the casingarranged to actuate the recording device and locking lever and rotatablemeans arranged to retain the locking lever in locked position and therecording device in inoperative position.

17. In a watchmans clock, a casing, a back therefor, a locking lever forthe back carried by the casing, a recording 'device pivotally carried bythe lever,'a disk carried by the casing, two cams carried thereby, oneof said cams arranged to actuate said locking lever and recordingdevice, the other of said cams arranged to retain the locking lever inlocking position and the recording device in inoperative position.

18. ln a watchmans clock, a casing, a back therefor, a lever carried bythe casing, a recording device carried by the lever, a locking armcarried by the lever arranged to engage and hold the back, a diskcarried by the casing, two cams carried thereby,

one of said cams arranged to actuate the my name this 5th day ofNovember, A. D. recording` device and locking arm, the other 1912.

of said cams arranged to lie in the path of rotation of the lever Whenthe locking FRANKLIN HARDINGE 5 arm engages the back and the recordingde- Vitnesses:

vice is inoperative. LESLIE W. FRICKE,

In Witness whereof, I hereunto Subscribe LEONARD E. BOGUE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

